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UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture.., coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, opportunity, for every child, the right to learn

UNICEF has been the leading child-rights organization, and a respected partner, for saving and improving children’s lives. In Ghana, UNICEF cooperates with the Government and other partners to advocate for the protection of children's rights, to ensure equitable access to quality social services, and to expand children’s opportunities to reach their full potential. With offices in Accra and Tamale, the UNICEF team seeks to achieve results in strategic programme areas. The overall goal is for every child to survive and thrive, to live in a safe and clean environment, to learn, to be protected from violence and exploitation, and to have an equitable chance in life. The current Country Programme of cooperation is aligned with the Government priorities, the UN Sustainable Development Partnership (UNSDP) and Key Results for Children (KRCs) in the West and Central African Region (immunization, nutrition, learning outcomes, ending violence and open defecation). UNICEF main strategies include evidence-based advocacy, system strengthening, integrated programming across sectors, emergency preparedness and response, and innovation.

How can you make a difference? 

The primary objective of this internship is to provide programmatic support to the Adolescent & Gender Lead at UNICEF Ghana, with dedicated secondment to the Health Section. The intern will play a key role in advancing gender-responsive and gender-transformative programming, particularly in support of adolescents especially girls across all areas of UNICEF Ghana’s work, including the Adolescent Girls Empowerment Project (AGP II). A core component of this role will include amplifying girls' voices through the Regional Adolescent Girl Summit and the GCO Adolescent Girl Advisory Group, ensuring that adolescent perspectives are central to policy, planning, and advocacy efforts.

This internship also serves as a valuable learning opportunity, aimed at nurturing young Ghanaian professionals to become future leaders in gender equality and child rights within the development sector. The intern’s local insight and understanding of Ghana’s socio-cultural context will be critical in strengthening the relevance and impact of UNICEF's adolescent and gender programmes.

Tasks to be competed.

Support the GCO Adolescent girls’ consultations and Regional Girls’ summit

• Establishment and Engagement of the GCO Adolescent Girl Advisory Group: Support the formation of the GCO Adolescent Girl Advisory Group, including outreach, selection, onboarding, and capacity strengthening of members. Ensure meaningful participation of the group in shaping UNICEF Ghana’s adolescent and gender programmes, amplifying peer voices, and contributing to key events such as the Regional Girls' Summit.
• Ghana’s Participation in the Regional Adolescent Girl Summit: Support the planning and coordination of Ghana’s engagement in the Regional Summit by preparing and mobilizing adolescent girl delegates, documenting promising national practices, and producing relevant advocacy materials. Collaborate closely with Communications and Partnerships teams to enhance visibility and demonstrate Ghana’s leadership in advancing adolescent girls’ rights.
• Amplify Visibility and Regional Advocacy: Ensure that the voices, experiences, and priorities of Ghanaian girls are reflected in regional dialogues and platforms. Promote advocacy efforts that position adolescent girls as key actors in shaping policies and initiatives that affect their lives.
• Assist in the review of UNICEF Ghana's program documents (e.g., concept notes, reports, work plans) to ensure the integration of gender-responsive and gender-transformative approaches.
• Support the Adolescent & Gender team in developing and disseminating internal guidelines, tools, and best practices for gender mainstreaming across various sectors (Health, Education, WASH, Child Protection, Social Policy).
• Contribute to evidence generation by providing research support, collecting, and organizing gender-disaggregated data and relevant studies on adolescent and gender issues in Ghana.
• Gather and synthesize programmatic information and insights from the Adolescent & Gender section's initiatives to inform the development of communication and advocacy materials (e.g., program briefs, success stories, key messages).
• Assist in the planning, logistical organization, and documentation (e.g., minutes, reports) of internal team meetings, cross-sectoral coordination meetings, workshops, and events related to adolescent and gender programming.
• Oversee the content development and maintenance of the Adolescent & Gender Department's SharePoint collaboration site, ensuring it serves as a hub for information and teamwork.

Support to the Adolescent Girls Empowerment Project (AGP II):

• Assist in the coordination and documentation of activities related to the AGP II project, particularly those involving UNICEF's contributions.
• Provide support for data collection, monitoring, and reporting requirements for the AGP II, focusing on adolescent girl-centered outcomes.
• Compile program data, human-interest stories, and lessons learned from the AGP II to support the creation of communication and advocacy materials by the Advocacy & Communications section.

Support to the Health Section:

• Provide direct support to The Health Section's work around the Safety Net project, focusing on its gender-responsive implementation and outcomes for adolescent girls.
• Assist in initiatives and programs specifically targeting pregnant adolescent girls, ensuring their access to comprehensive health services and support.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of Adolescent Girls Parenting Programs, supporting young mothers with essential skills and resources.
• Support the Health section in developing an e-tracking tool for collecting data related to adolescent health and gender outcomes.
• Participate in collecting data in various regions in Ghana, contributing to evidence generation for adolescent girls’ health programs.

Expected Deliverables

• Drafted analytical reviews of program documents with gender integration recommendations.
• Meeting minutes, agendas, and background notes for key departmental and inter-sectoral meetings.
• Research briefs, background notes, and data compilations on specific adolescent and gender issues in Ghana (e.g., on MHM, teenage pregnancy prevention, girls' education).
• Compiled programmatic information and initial drafts for communication products (e.g., human-interest stories, advocacy messages, presentations) for the Adolescent & Gender section.
• Regular updates and organized content on the Adolescent & Gender SharePoint collaboration site.

For Adolescent Girls Empowerment Project (AGP II) Support:

• Meeting notes and preparatory documents for AGP II coordination.
• Contributions to AGP II monitoring reports and data summaries.
• Compiled program information and initial drafts for AGP II communication pieces.

For Health Section Support:

• Contributions to the Safety Net project documentation and implementation reports.
• Support materials developed for pregnant adolescent girls and parenting programs.
• Draft specifications or initial development support for the e-tracking data collection tool.
• Field data collection reports and summaries from various regions.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  Intern ToR - Adolescent and Gender UNICEF Ghana (002).pdf

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

• Education: 
  • Proof of enrolment in an undergraduate or advanced degree programme, in a reference letter from school confirming that the student requires an internship.

  OR

  • Up-to-date university transcript or Statement of result/certificate evidencing completion of a degree within the last two years (if applicable).

• Applicants must be at least 18 years old.
• Academic background in Social Sciences, Gender Studies, International Development, Public Health, Education, Sociology, Psychology, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated interest and some experience (e.g., through previous internships, volunteer work, academic projects) in areas related to child rights, gender equality, adolescent development, or programme support. 
• Skills: Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office software packages such as MS Word, Publisher, Excel, and other related software packages.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.
• Have no relatives (father, mother, brother, or sister) working in any UNICEF office.
• Have no other relatives in the line of authority to which the intern will report to.

Desirables:

• Experience with digital collaboration platforms and skills in report writing and research, is an advantage

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable female are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.